5 Common Health Myths You Shouldn't Believe

When researching ways to improve your health, you must learn to separate the facts from the fiction. There are many different health myths out there that can lead you down the wrong path. Rather than following them, you should reject them. Below are five of the most common health myths.

#1) All Fats Are Bad

Don't assume that all fats are bad. Some fats can, in fact, increase the risk of chronic disease, but others have the opposite effect: they can lower your risk of chronic disease. Trans fats are the worst in terms of their health effects. When consumed, they'll clog your arteries so that you are more likely to experience high blood pressure and other related conditions. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, are good for your health. They'll remove arterial buildup so that you are less likely to develop chronic disease.

#2) Eggs Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Another common healthy myth is that eggs increase the risk of heart disease. For decades, many people have avoided or limited eggs in their diet, believing the high cholesterol content of eggs will place them at a greater risk for heart disease. While eggs have high levels of cholesterol in them, they won't necessarily raise your own body's cholesterol levels. There's dietary cholesterol, and there's body cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol like that found in eggs doesn't translate into body cholesterol.

#3) Late-Night Eating Causes Weight Gain

Contrary to popular belief, late-night eating doesn't cause weight gain. Weight gain is basically the result of a calorie surplus. If you consume more calories than what your body burns, you'll inevitably gain weight. As a result, the time of day when you eat won't affect whether or not you gain weight. You'll still consume the same amount of calories, regardless of what time you eat.

#4) Sodium Should Be Avoided

While it shouldn't be consumed in excess, sodium is an essential nutrient that, like all other essential nutrients, is needed for proper health. Among other things, sodium regulates fluid levels. It ensures proper fluid levels while simultaneously combating water retention. As an electrolyte, it's also used to relay signals between the nerves and muscles. Omitting sodium from your diet may lead to health problems.

#5) Supplements Are an Effective Substitution for Food

Many people assume that supplements are just as good as food-based of nutrition. Rather than eating fruits and vegetables, for example, they take a multi-vitamin supplement. While some supplements can prove beneficial, though, you shouldn't use them as a substitute for food. Your body will absorb fewer nutrients from supplements, which could lead to a deficiency.